Artist's Description

Background Information:Tofino is a village of about 1,650 residents on the west coast of Vancouver Island, in British Columbia, Canada, located at the western terminus of Highway 4. It is located at the tip of the Esowista Peninsula, and is thus a part of Clayoquot Sound. Islands in the vicinity include Meares, Vargas and Flores. Lone Cone on Meares Island is an extinct volcano. Tofino and the nearby town of Ucluelet are the closest towns to the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve.

The settlement of Tofino first acquired the name in 1909 with the opening of the Tofino Post Office, named in association with Tofino Inlet nearby. Tofino Inlet was named in 1792 by the Spanish commanders Galiano and Valdés, in honor of Admiral Vicente Tofiño, under whom Galiano had learned cartography.

A popular tourist destination in the summer, Tofino’s population swells to many times its winter size. It attracts surfers, nature lovers, campers, whale watchers, fishermen, or anyone just looking to be close to nature. In the winter it is not as bustling, however, many people visit Tofino and the west coast to watch storms on the water. Close to Tofino is Long Beach, a scenic and popular year-round destination, at the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. Nearby Maquinna Marine Provincial Park, with its natural hot springs, is located about 45 kilometres (28 mi) north of Tofino and is also a popular day-trip destination for tourists although it is only reachable by boat or float plane.